The VTA places their first order for all-electric buses to be delivered in June 2018.

The Martha’s Vineyard Transit Authority (VTA) placed an order for four battery all-electric transit buses with the California bus manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) Motors. The VTA’s order of four buses is the first step in a larger project, Electric Drives the Future. The VTA plans to transition its entire fleet to all electric and install solar canopies and panels on its roof to charge the energy storage system, so the transit agency can charge buses with renewable energy.

“Going electric is key for the future of the VTA” said Angie Grant, VTA Administrator. “Emission standards have gotten more restrictive over the last five to seven years, and the VTA has been challenged with the operational reliability of our diesel fleet as a result. Diesel buses today are louder, more expensive to maintain and require a significant amount of petroleum products to operate, none of which are sustainable long term. Electric buses are more fuel efficient, require less maintenance, are considerably quieter than diesel buses and they produce zero tailpipe emissions.” Ms. Grant believes this will be a welcome change to residents and visitors to the island , “Two of the more common complaints we get are about exhaust fumes from our diesel buses and
how loud they are. The VTA is excited to help make the Vineyard a cleaner, quieter place, while continuing to provide safe, economical and dependable public transportation that our community deserves.”

The BYD buses ordered by the VTA are approximately the same size as the buses in their current fleet, but can hold more passengers because they don’t need room for an engine. The batteries on BYD buses have an iron phosphate chemistry and are guaranteed to last the 12-year life cycle of the new buses.

This first order of all-electric transit buses should be delivered in June 2018 and put into operation next summer. Moving forward, the VTA plans to pursue funding to expand the number of all-electric vehicles in their fleet and invest in the charging infrastructure needed to support these vehicles on route.